News
Marlies Shutout Amerks
February 24, 2007
(TORONTO) - The Toronto Marlies held the Rochester Americans to just 15 shots in a 3-0 victory Saturday afternoon in front of 4,416 at Ricoh Coliseum. Three different players scored for the Marlies, while Justin Pogge started in goal for Toronto, earning his first home shutout of the season and first-star honours.
The Marlies took an early lead less than five minutes into the game. With the Marlies' Robbie Earl in the penalty box on a slashing call, David Cloutier fed a pass to Ben Ondrus in the neutral zone. Ondus skated the puck down the left side and fired a wrist shot past Rochester starting netminder Adam Dennis at 4:46 of the opening frame. Tyson Nash also earned an assist on the play, which was ultimately the game-winning goal.
Jay Harrison notched his third goal of the season at 11:13 of the second period to put the Marlies up 2-0. John Mitchell won a face-off in the Rochester zone, sending the puck back to Harrison, whose slapshot sailed past Dennis.
The Americans pulled Dennis with less than two minutes remaining in the game in favour of the extra skater. The Marlies had several chances to increase their lead in the waning seconds of the game, many of which were blocked by Rochester or clanked off the goalposts. Eventually Robbie Earl recovered the puck in the Marlies' zone and launched a shot that went into the empty net to seal the game.
Toronto hosts the Manitoba Moose -- AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks -- on Sunday, February 25. The first 5,000 fans to arrive for the 4 p.m. game will receive a Marc Moro bobblehead. The Marlies travel to Winnipeg for two games against the Moose on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3. The puck drops both nights at 7:30 p.m. CST.
SCORING
First Period
1. TOR B. Ondrus (8) (Cloutier, Nash) 4:46 SH
Second Period
2. TOR J. Harrison (3) (Mitchell) 11:13
Third Period
3. TOR R. Earl (7) (unassisted) 19:43 EN
THREE STARS
1. TOR Pogge #1
2. TOR Ondrus #25
3. TOR Harrison #20
ICE CHIPS: Five of Ben Ondrus' eight goals with the Marlies this season have come on special teams (four on the power-play, one shorthanded)... Three of Ondrus' goals have come against the Americans... Jay Harrison has a three-game point streak (1G, 2A), his longest of the season... Robbie Earl has three points (2G, 1A) in four games... Justin Pogge earned his second shutout of the season (his first game without allowing a goal was a 4-0 decision in Grand Rapids on October 27... The Marlies are now 15-3-2 when leading after two periods... Rochester's 15 shots is the lowest total for a Marlies' opponent all season... The 35 total combined shots in the game marks the lowest total all season for a Marlies' game.
